Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #113: Yesterday's Gin (1/29/01)
Riyyh is holed up in his tiny, greenhouse-like office in the Narosian bathhouse, trying to make head or tails of its finances.
Riyyh's office is a claustrophobically tight space with equally small desk, shelves, cabinets, etc. custom fitted by well-wishing Narosians. Greenish light comes from the ceiling.
Riyyh is not particularly fond of the office, but it does allow him to avoid bringing financial materials to his tent.
Riyyh made sure he was perfectly ecstatic about it when it was presented to him of course.
Riyyh does care about his members' feelings.
Riyyh fiddles with his fountain pen and adds some notations to a growing list of ideas he hopes to propose to his enthusiastic but somewhat unbridled members and their even more enthusiastic and somewhat unhinged volunteers.
Elte staggers down the path that leads from the unofficial entertainment establishments in the backwoods towards the squatters' tents.
Elte has been immersing himself in what he calls "local color."
Elte believes a total immersion is necessary for full understanding of his subjects.
Elte is entirely occupied right now with a throbbing hang-over caused by bathtub gin.
Elte concentrates on putting one foot in front of another.
Elte wonders how he is going to make it all the way through the vast ramshackle city to his own nice, clean tent in the worker's quarter.
Elte pulls himself blearily upright in the growing light of morning, surveying the horizon.
Elte notices the beckoning green glass of the Narosian bathhouse glinting in the morning sun.
Elte thinks a nice hot soak would be just the ticket.
Elte also remembers what a hospitable host Sectuib Riyyh is, recalling certain raspberry croissants with particular fondness.
Elte figures that even if Riyyh isn't there, the Narosians are likely to take pity on a poor, miserable Gen with a hang-over.
Elte adjusts his course and begins staggering in the direction of the bathhouse.
Elte navigates around rude huts and traverses ruts, logs, garbage dumps and drainage ditches, finally arriving at the Narosian encampment.
Elte is sure that after a nice, hot bath he will feel invigorated enough to just skip the remaining four miles to his own quarters.
Elte admires the curve of growing plants through the steamy green glass.
Elte looks muzzily around for the entrance.
Elte trudges around the circumference of the building.
Elte wonders if the facility will be open this early, and then reminds himself that Simes don't sleep. Well, they hardly sleep.
Racknie is "helping" in the main entrance to the bath house, which is not necessarily making the venture run more smoothly.
Racknie usually finds himself asked to work the less-busy shifts, for some strange reason.
Racknie is, of course, more than happy to help out wherever and whenever he can.
Elte peers in the door.
Shelah is sitting at the ticket counter watching Racknie.
Shelah: I don't think they need to be washed again.
Racknie turns to look at Shelah in a wounded fashion.
Shelah is a young renSime of about 13 natal years, whose mother and father are also employed by the bath house.
Racknie: But people will be upset if they come in here and the benches are dusty!
Racknie overlooks the problems associated with all benches being rather on the sopping wet side.
Elte sees the young Sime and Gen bathhouse attendants; he remembers Racknie from the boiler incident.
Shelah: Thank you, here's your ticket. [to a renSime who has just come in and handed her some coins] Do you want a towel or soap?
Shelah watches him go in, then turns back to Racknie.
Shelah spots Elte.
Racknie dips his mop in a bucket and enthusiastically swabs down another bench.
Shelah: Hi. [to Elte's head]
Shelah peers at him.
Elte comes in and smiles at the young Sime. Smiling makes his face ache.
Shelah zlins Elte, then wishes she hadn't.
Shelah winces.
Elte: Hello.
Elte burps.
Shelah: I guess I don't have to ask if you're having a good morning.
Shelah: [somewhat disgruntled]
Elte: Sorry.
Racknie looks up at the change in Shelah's tone.
Elte: I had a good night, though.
Elte tries to smile again.
Shelah: Uh-huh. Oh, don't do that. Please.
Shelah isn't just talking about Elte's nager; he has a bit of bark from the bath tub still caught between his front teeth.
Racknie sees that the customer looks distinctly peaked.
Racknie wanders over, dragging his wet mop behind him.
Elte has noticed that the wiles that work so well on Gens are not as effective on Simes.
Racknie: You don't look so good. Are you well?
Elte: I've been better.
Elte notices Shelah staring at his teeth and puts his hand to his mouth. It does feel a bit odd.
Racknie: Would you like to see a channel? Sectuib is in his office, I believe.
Elte: I'd like a nice soak. Oh, is Riyyh in?
Racknie is sure that Riyyh will be very glad to help Elte. He's always very glad to help anyone.
Racknie: Why, yes, he is.
Shelah: That will be 2 coins. 4 if you want a towel and soap.
Elte weighs the pleasures of the hot water versus the prospect of Riyyh's special stash of croissants.
Elte hands over 4 coins to Shelah.
Elte applies his aching head to trying to decide if it would be best to visit the Sectuib before or after he bathes.
Elte: Do you think he would mind?
Racknie: Of course not. He's always glad to see people.
Racknie knows that Riyyh is particularly glad to see people when he should be dealing with unpleasant administrative details.
Shelah points to the towels and soap on a nearby shelf.
Elte has been thoroughly impressed by the miracles of channel's science since he began this assignment at the Dam site.
Elte thinks if the Simes really have a hang-over cure, they could market it in every town and city of New Washington Territory.
Elte takes the towels and soap absent-mindedly as he tries to think what the ad campaign would look like.
Elte: Yeah, I'd like to say hi.
Elte decides it would be better to visit the Sectuib before undressing.
Racknie does take after his father/grandfather in some things--such as a tendency to place socializing over work.
Racknie: I'd be happy to show you to his office.
Elte: Okay, great! You're the engineer, right?
Racknie absently sets the mop aside, leaning it against a mural of a jungle.
Shelah watches Racknie and Elte leave, then looks at the discarded mop and bucket and shakes her head in a gesture she learned by watching her parents shake their heads over other Narosians' behaviors.
Elte: You designed all this plumbing?
Racknie looks a bit bewildered.
Racknie: Engineer? Why, no, I breed artichokes. What gave you the idea that I was an engineer?
Elte: That night, with the leaking pipes. You were trying to fix them.
Racknie: Well, of course I was trying to help out.
Racknie might have had a bit more success if he were an engineer instead of an artichoke breeder.
Elte: Someone told me you helped design this place.
Racknie: Oh, we all contributed, of course.
Elte: I really like the decor. Kind of jungle-like.
Racknie: I tried to get plants for the lobby, but Sectuib made me take them back, so all we have are the pictures.
Racknie frowns absently: he still hasn't completely resigned himself to letting the poor vegetation stay in such abusive situations.
Elte: Well, it puts a touch of green in all this winter.
Racknie pauses outside of Riyyh's office, which they conspired so hard to keep him unaware of until it was finished, and signals.
Elte fondly remembers an assignment in the Southern rain forests.
Riyyh looks up in considerable relief.
Riyyh: Come in!
Elte thinks he hasn't been in this corner of the building before.
Racknie opens the door.
Riyyh has finally managed to unravel the tangle they'd made of the finances, and has ashbinned his original notion of trying to wean them off of his help in that matter.
Elte enters, wondering what fantastic outfit the Sectuib will be wearing today.
Riyyh: Why hello, Racknie, Elte.
Riyyh: [smiles]
Racknie: Sectuib, Elte here isn't feeling quite well, so I thought that a visit with you might cheer him up a bit.
Riyyh is wearing some green robes of a light, silken fabric with gold embroidery and a scarf of some paler green.
Racknie looks proudly at the vine-and-artichoke border painted just under the ceiling: his contribution to the office project.
Riyyh is also wearing a garland of enamelled pink and green roses, a gift from a particularly grateful Palisades resident who wanted to thank him for... but I digress.
Riyyh zlins Elte.
Riyyh: Oh dear, what a frightful hangover.
Elte smiles at the silver-haired channel in his flowing green robes, like some Ancient deity of springtime.
Racknie wanted to work on the shelves instead, but the others thought that structural integrity was important for that aspect of the project, and sidetracked him with the decoration.
Elte: It is a doozy, isn't it?
Elte: When we've provided these people with decent food, water, selyn and sanitation, we've got to get them some better liquor.
Riyyh: Well, you simply must have a cup of the Turros' Reprise. We have some in the tea room, it's been wonderfully popular here.
Elte: Is that a hang-over cure?
Riyyh rises rather stiffly from the cramped area behind the desk, and wends his way out to join them.
Riyyh: It does help a bit. Of course, a nice long soak in a pool will help also. [smiles]
Elte: Well, I was wondering if you could do a bit more of your, uh, tentacle magic.
Riyyh experimented a lot with hangover curing tea in his youth (and, well, his maturity) and came to the sad conclusion that no one tea can do the trick, and mixing teas after a bender is not a good idea.
Racknie is reminded by the mention of long soaks and pools that he is being delinquent in his duties.
Riyyh smiles at Elte's suggestion.
Riyyh: I would be delighted to.
Elte: Does it work for this kind of problem?
Racknie: I really ought to get back; I wouldn't want Shelah to think I had abandoned her.
Riyyh waves to Racknie, his attention mostly on Elte.
Riyyh finds Elte's neediness quite compelling. He would.
Elte: Good meeting you again, Racknie!
Elte waves to the Gen.
Racknie waves goodbye to Elte, and leaves the office.
Elte: So where did that name come from... Turros' Reprise?
Riyyh: It is named after a dear friend of mine, a member of Naros.
Riyyh: He used to get the most terrible headaches, usually after... well, never mind that. Come and I'll get you into a nice private bath if one's available.
Elte: Huh... that stuff I drank tonight ought to be named after your famous attack on the Gen Army.
Riyyh after spending several hours struggling through the bath house paperwork is about to screw it up again by allowing a general admission person to use a private room, but oh well.
Riyyh looks quite surprised.
Riyyh: There is a name for that?
Elte: No, but there should be. It's quite a story.
Riyyh nods, more relieved than he'd care to admit.
Riyyh: You have towels and... good.
Riyyh begins to lead Elte through some short corridors in the behind-the-scenes part of the bath house.
Elte: I did a bit of checking and one of the officers mentions it in his journals.
Riyyh: Oh? Is that so?
Riyyh is almost afraid to hear what was said.
Elte: Fertilizer bombs... very, very clever.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Riyyh: We hadn't wanted to do that, of course.
Elte: And, just as you said, he admits your people held off his forces until they were needed elsewhere.
Riyyh hopes Elte isn't thinking of writing a book or some such about that. Most Narosians who are old enough to remember those days in detail do not like to talk about it.
Riyyh: Here we go... this one is available. [smiles]
Riyyh shows Elte into a small room with somewhat rustic plaster walls, a slate floor and a small deep pebble-lined hot tub.
Elte: This is pleasant.
Elte looks around the cozy steam-filled enclosure.
Riyyh beams at the praise.
Riyyh: They have worked so hard on it. I am please that people find it comfortable.
Riyyh: Here, let me assist you.
Elte: I'm sorry if my hang-over bothers you.
Riyyh closes the door, then goes to open the valve that will start the hot water circulating through the tub.
Elte: I mean, it bothers me, but I really don't mind.
Riyyh: It isn't so bad, [lies skillfully]
Elte: Sometimes it seems like Simes are hurt worse by Gen pain than the Gens are.
Riyyh smiles at Elte and touches the Gen's forehead, attempting to help block the pain.
Riyyh: It is possible, you know. Everybody handles pain differently.
Elte: I'm thinking in particular of that business with that Courier Storm and his Killer Mule.
Riyyh: Well, that was a case of killmode triggered by pain and fear.
Riyyh: A very different matter than simple discomfort.
Elte seats himself besides the edge of the water.
Riyyh: Do make yourself comfortable. I will go fetch you some tea.
Riyyh thinks he should bring some nice shampoo and conditioner in case Elte wants a head massage.
Elte: You are too kind.
Riyyh smiles kindly at Elte, and slips out of the room.
Elte has had the channel's penchant for touchy-feely stuff pointed out to him by Mr. Birch. Unlike Birch, he doesn't find this offensive. Just different.
Elte is beginning to sweat in the steamy room, and unbuttons his winter clothing.
Elte has heard Simes don't care about clothing the way Gens do and his own experiences have confirmed that.
Elte figures that Simes only care what Gens zlin like, not how they are dressed... or undressed.
Elte wishes he didn't zlin like a Gen with a head-ache, as he is sure that is impolite, but he's not sure what to do about it.
Elte begins to pull his boots off, but it is hard to brace himself well enough.
Elte's boot comes off with a loud sucking sound and flies across the room.
Elte pants a bit at the exertion.
Riyyh returns almost immediately with a tea service, some toast and marmalade, shampoo conditioner and massage oil (different choices) and an extra towel.
Elte gathers his strength and goes to work on the other boot.
Riyyh notes that Elte is not moving too quickly.
Riyyh: Oh, let me help you with that.
Elte looks up woozily.
Riyyh puts everything down on a wooden bench and goes to help Elte remove the second boot.
Elte: You don't have to do that!
Elte is all for channel's medical treatment, but he has been removing his own shoes for some time now.
Elte usually has some sense of balance when he does it, though.
Elte's acrobatic stance teetering on the edge of the bath tugging at an up-raised leg with both arms is precarious.
Riyyh manages to restrain himself from helping Elte against his will, but he does reach out a hand to steady Elte's shoulder.
Elte pops off the other boot, and would fall backwards in the water if Riyyh's support did not prevent this.
Riyyh: It must have been some night.
Riyyh smiles sadly; Elte's condition seems to still be on the downswing, so it must have been a late night as well.
Riyyh: Here, try some of this tea. It's quite refreshing, and does help pain a little. It is also good for a queasy stomach.
Riyyh pours some tea into one of the cups and offers it to Elte.
Elte accepts the cup and breathes in the aroma.
Elte: I was investigating the homeless experience.
Elte: Even the poorest of them have their pleasures.
Elte: But the price isn't always in money.
Riyyh: Oh?
Elte remembers details of his night in the speak-easy; things got a bit blurry towards the end.
Elte rubs the bridge of his nose where the pain seems to have driven a special wedge.
Elte: That home-brew gin should really be illegal. As a matter of fact, I think it is.
Elte: Have to look up the law.
Elte: That assistant of mine is a sharp kid and speaks good Simelan, but he's no scholar.
Elte of course has no way to judge what good Simelan sounds like.
Elte means Simelan he can understand himself.
Riyyh tries not to wince as Elte rubs his sore head.
Riyyh smiles kindly at Elte.
Riyyh: Perhaps you would allow me to do a little work on you, in the hopes of alleviating your condition somewhat?
Elte: You are kindness itself, Sectuib.
Riyyh: And do drink the tea, it should help.
Elte's field indicates complete willingness to have the pain banished.
Elte: Okay.
Elte gingerly sips the hot tea.
Riyyh: Hmm.. perhaps you could get into the tub and soak while I attend to your head?
Riyyh is speaking at least as much for his own love of cleanliness and comfort as he is for Elte's comfort.
Elte: Certainly.
Elte takes another sip. The tea is dark, with a licorice-like flavor and an undercurrent of trin and orange peel.
Elte thinks it tastes appropriately medicinal.
Elte sets the cup aside for a moment while he unbuttons his shirt.
Elte, despite his current state of exhaustion, is lean and strong, with curly dark chest hair.
Elte has spent enough time in military barracks that he has given up modesty.
Riyyh waits patiently as Elte moves slower and slower. He wonders if he should have marked the room in use for more than just the hour he did.
Riyyh would not want to disturb Elte if the journalist fell asleep in the bath, after all.
Elte shucks off his pants and tosses them in the corner.
Elte lets himself slip into the blissfully hot water.
Elte sighs.
Elte: That does feel good.
Elte reaches for the teacup and takes another sip.
Riyyh smiles and picks up Elte's clothes. He folds them neatly and puts them outside the door for the laundry people to get.
Riyyh comes back and kneels by Elte's head.
Elte leans his neck back, ready for the channel's ministrations.
Riyyh waits for him to lean back, then gently takes his head between his hands and spread tentacles, projecting a healing field.
Elte: Mmmmmm....
Riyyh's hands massage Elte's head in a smooth, skilled manner as he does so.
Elte: Riyyh, what does it feel like to make love to someone and be able to feel what they're feeling?
Riyyh blinks at the unexpected question, but his hands only pause for a moment.
Riyyh thinks about it as he continues to work on Elte's head ache.
Riyyh: Why, it's quite pleasant actually. [smiles]
Riyyh: I enjoy making others happy.
Riyyh: I enjoy giving them what they desire, and helping them to relax.
Elte: Yes, you said that. And at first I didn't believe you.
Riyyh: Do you prefer mint, or rose?
Riyyh holds up two bottles of shampoo from his personal collection.
Elte takes another sip of the tea. It really has a very powerful aroma of its own.
Riyyh prefers the rose himself, but he unlike Arat is rather familiar with OT Gen male preferences and suspects Elte will prefer the mint.
Elte: Uh, I think mint would be best.
Riyyh nods, and sets the rose aside.
Riyyh's hands gently encourage Elte to sink down and wet his hair.
Elte: That woman Meana... when you made love to her, was it what she desired?
Riyyh smiles as he remembers back.
Riyyh: It is so difficult to remember.
Riyyh: They were all quite eager. Shy, but when they knew I could not harm them, they wanted to take advantage of the situation.
Riyyh: I was glad to give them such pleasure.
Riyyh doesn't mind getting tied up once in a while, just for grins.
Elte: Why did she change her mind, then? Can you zlin that?
Riyyh considers.
Riyyh helps Elte come back up again, then starts massaging cool minty shampoo into the Gen's hair.
Elte acknowledges the achievement in bedding countless women with 250 offspring to prove it, but this is at least one case in which the seducee left unhappy.
Riyyh: The day I was trapped there, the day of the blizzard, was also a day of great celebration for her commune.
Riyyh: We -- some of my members were travelling with me -- arrived when the festivities were well underway.
Riyyh: It is traditional for a certain amount of freedom and experimentation to be practiced on that day. However, some of them, like Meana, were not prepared when it came time to reconcile their actions with their beliefs.
Riyyh: Or so I have come to believe.
Riyyh pauses a moment in his rubbing as he thinks about it.
Elte: But she wanted you in the heat of the moment? You were sure of that?
Riyyh: It is difficult to be sure of anything, now. It was so long ago.
Riyyh smiles apologetically, even though Elte wouldn't be able to see it from his angle.
Riyyh uses a sponge to rinse off Elte's head.
Elte has found the courtship of Gen women, while always intriguing, also vastly frustrating. He wishes he could zlin how his lovers react to him.
Elte: I never know.
Elte: And Gen women, some of them, are quite good at acting out their role.
Elte: I wish I could be sure I was making my partners happy.
Riyyh: I am certain if they keep returning that you must be providing them with something that they want. [kindly]
Riyyh: And that is all to the good, right?
Elte relaxes under Riyyh's massage.
Elte: Of course.
Elte: I had a rather amazing experience tonight.
Elte: I made love with a Sime.
Riyyh: Oh?
Elte: She was in heat... how do you call it? Post?
Riyyh smiles.
Elte: And there wasn't any doubt what she wanted.
Elte: No acting.
Elte: That was very different.
see note 1
Notes:
1) This scene was never finished. [return]
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